T cell

T cell

Definition of T CELL

: any of several lymphocytes (as a helper T cell) that differentiate in the thymus, possess highly specific cell-surface antigen receptors, and include some that control the initiation or suppression of cell-mediated and humoral immunity (as by the regulation of T and B cell maturation and proliferation) and others that lyse antigen-bearing cells —called also T lymphocyte — compare b cell

Origin of T CELL

thymus-derived cell

First Known Use: 1970

T cell

noun(Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of T CELL

: any of several lymphocytes (as a helper T cell) that differentiate in the thymus, possess highly specific cell-surface antigen receptors, and include some that control the initiation or suppression of cell-mediated and humoral immunity (as by the regulation of T and B cell maturation and proliferation) and others that lyse antigen-bearing cells—called also T lymphocyte; see cytotoxic t cell, helper t cell, suppressor t cell, t4 cell